But this really isn't a new story to Sentinel readers. Maybe Nelson and Time missed James Fisher's story in this paper last December while the congressman was training for the flight.

Fisher reported that Columbia Commander Robert ''Hoot'' Gibson didn't like all the phone calls Nelson was taking down there in Houston because they interrupted astronaut training sessions.

A NASA source said then that Nelson had been told the practice had to stop. Other NASA sources told Fisher that Nelson appeared to be using the flight to advance his political career.

They said he was hyping his role in space too much, ''trying to make the experiments he was assigned to do in space appear to be more important than they are.''

And another agency source: ''His demeanor kind of leaves a bad taste in your mouth. If you compared Sen. Jake Garn to this guy Nelson, Jake was ever so much better behaved.'' Garn flew on an earlier shuttle mission.

Time speculated that the presidential commission might suggest putting a damper on civilians in the program. A pity. Just when NBC's Jay Barbree of Cocoa Beach is so close to becoming a journalist in space.

Hate to see one civilian apple spoil it for all the rest.

Bouquets for Brevardians. Parents and friends who put together Project Graduation parties deserve a real big thank you from everyone in Brevard.

These affairs not only keep drugs and alcohol out of the high school graduation scene, they also provide the kids with a night of memories they will cherish through life.

And it was encouraging to see that a majority of the seniors opted for booze-free parties. Sandi Roth, chairwoman for the Satellite High School party, said she sees ''a real change in the kids' values'' regarding drinking. ''They might still have beer at their private parties, but there seems to be a lot less of it than there used to be.''

Tougher drunken-driving laws are having their effect on adult boozing. Without role-model drinking parents, maybe kids don't see quite as much glamor in it anymore. Let's hope not.

Waiting for the beep. If you have a telephone answering machine you probably have been made to feel like a social outcast from time to time.

People keep telling you they don't want to talk to a machine, right? Well, now you can strike back.

WVTI-FM (107) in Melbourne is running the Lean Mean Answering Machine Contest this week on the morning show with breakfast bunchers Steve Biddle and J. J. McKay.

Here's what you do: Call the station (984-1000), preferably between 6 and 9 a.m., by Saturday.

Hold the phone near the machine and play the message. They'll record it at the station.

The cleverest, most interesting and original message, which should keep callers from hanging up, will win a Telequest telephone, which McKay says is just the cat's whiskers.

Entries will be played and judged on the air Monday. Brevard At Large will be sitting in with Steve and J. J. to pick a winner.

Hint: Forget the message that starts ''I'm sorry, I can't come to the phone right now but if you will. . . .'' We all know that means you're in Amarillo.